12 hours out...rigt hip with Dr Gross

[RebeccaT]

So 2.5 weeks -- down to one crutch with no problem (mainly around the house -- still take two when I go out because it's just easier if I encounter stairs or something.)

I am back to work today, from my sofa only -- I think my brain was getting a bit mushy from all the laziness the last couple of weeks.

I can tell if I overdo that my muscles are a bit sore, but nothing crazy. An hour or two on the polar care seems to take care of it.

I am also having no problem sleeping through the night for the most part, but I do tend to wake up if I turn over. Just one pillow between my legs seems to work for side sleeping though. My hip is sore when I wake up, but once I am up and on it, it feels fine.

Looking forward to getting back to the gym and back to normal eating (my "abnormal" eating is really a function of a combination of things ... surgery + friends bringing food + holidays).

Although Dr Gross requires no specific physical therapy, i do think I am going to get my neighbor who is a PT to come down and watch me walk with 1 crutch and give me some suggestions ... I feel like my gait is just funny. I definitely can't walk without a crutch. (Well -- I can -- but there is an extremely pronounced limp.) I feel that is normal at this stage but I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to help things move along in the right direction.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

[blinky]

I am curious what your PT neighbor will say about gait and walking normally after surgery. Does it just come back on its own? Or should we be doing something to help it along?

[RebeccaT]

Blinky, my neighbor says call her back when the 6-week restrictions are up :) ...

Really, though (although she did say that) she said the following:

-using a cane rather than one crutch should help me walk more upright (although I don't really feel that I am leaning on the crutch ...)
-I am turning my operated foot out, but I was doing that before (she said she noticed it ... I agree ...) I need to work on that after the restrictions are up ... need to increase strength in my inner thigh (muscle names eluding me at the minute) and practice walking a "straight line," basically ... really thinking about keeping that foot straight. She suggested practicing in the pool for now.
-Really working on core will help everything get back "in line" (and a chiropractor might, too, once I am able...)

So, nothing much to change now, but it was an interesting conversation. I will get a cane or hiking pole. Should only be for another week or two, I hope!

[JHippy]

The slight limp is definitely normal at 2.5 weeks, at least based on my experience. Interesting that your foot is turned out because mine was turned in.

[RebeccaT]

Update at 7+ weeks ... my hip feels great. Still limping a bit and not really Dr Gross' phase 2 exercises but I am doing them. (It just takes so long to count to 10, count to 5, etc! I am impatient!)

Took a little weekend trip Fri-Sun and walked a lot with no assistance, except for my husband's arm, which probably got a little tired, but over the course of Saturday I'd say we walked about 6 miles (with a good bit of rest in between) and there were no ill effects that I can tell.

I can definitely see improvement along and along, although not as much as I could on a daily basis about two weeks ago.

I sent in all my followup paperwork to Dr Gross last week -- was expecting to hear from them but I think I will touch base today to see what the next step is.

In any case, so far so good -- I can walk mostly without a limp if I really think about it ... but if I don't, it is definitely noticeable, so I have to work more on that. There is also some stiffness when I first stand up (or get up in the am) and strangely some pain at night (which reminds me of the old days pre-surgery ... but I am assuming it is muscular. It isn't horrible and only wakes me up occasionally...more strange than anything.

I have been doing the bike at the gym (boring, but ...) and some upper body exercise -- good thing because my eating is definitely outweighing my calories burned at the moment!

Planning our summer beach trip and looking forward to being able to ride a real bike!!

[blinky]

Sounds great! A beach trip is a strong incentive.

[JHippy]

Funny I had the pain that reminded me of pre-surgery pain as well. Was thinking wtf how does this make sense. It eventually went away.